Time-controlled electric switch.



APPLICATION TILED 1113.13, 1911.

Patented June 6, 1911.

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TIME CONTROLLED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 21:12.13, 1911.

994,575. 1 Patented June 6, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

TIME-CONTROLLED nmacrmc swrrcn.

v Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 1911,

Application filed February 13, 1911. Serial No. 608,480.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, CHAUNGEYR. DANA, a citizen of the United States, residin at Santa Maria, in the county of Santa arbara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Electric. Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to' be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to time controlled switch systems for electric lighting or power loads, andhas for its object to provide means whereby the clock for controlhng the switch may be located at a remote distance therefrom and is arranged at a convenient place in a-battery circuit. I With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the' same consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended clalms.

The preferred embodiment of the inven-. tion is illustrated in v the accompanying drawings in which like characters ofreference indicate corresponding arts Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating my invention, a portion of the electro-magnet being broken away toshow the plunger; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a clock, certain portions being broken away to more clearly show my invention in connection therewith; Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the contact arm of the clock; Fig. 4: is a similar view of one of the bars carrying a s ring contact member; Fig. 5 is a view of a siightly modified form of a battery circuit magnet; Fig. 6 is a plan view of same; and

:Fig. 7 is a side elevation, on'an enlarged scale, of a pair of the spring contact clips and one of the contact members in relative position. f

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an ordinary clock provided with an extra spindle 2carrying a suitable toothed wheel 3 which meshes with the toothed wheel 4 of the clock to rotate the spindle-2 preferably once in twenty-four hours. Fixed to the. spindle 2 is a'contact arm 5 carrying on its free end a wedge-shaped piece of fiber 6 arranged at right angles to the arm and leaving an exposed portion thereof at the back "of the fiber in order that the spring contact member, hereinafter described, will' make a "sudden contact therewith.

To theback of the casing 7 is secured a metal dial 8 which is insulated therefrom by a fiber ring 9 and havingon its face a double series of numerals from 1 to 12, one series representing the a. m. hours and the other the p. m5 hours. The back of the dial is provideolwith a boss 10 in which is journaled a bushing 11' of insulating material having 'fixed thereto a hand 12 insulated from the dial by a fiber washer 13. The inner end of the bushing carries a bar 14 which is insulated from the boss of the dial by a washer 15 and supporting at its end a V-shaped spring contact member 16 disposed at a right angle thereto and terminating in an angular piece 17 adapted to contact with" shaft 18 having fixed'to its outer end a hand 19, the free end of which is in engagement with the dial 8, and fixed to the .inner end of the bushing'is a bar 20 carrying a spring contact member 21 similar to the one described. The hand 12 is marked On and is adapted to beset to a, certain position on the dial to indicate the'time the contact arm 5 will engage the portion 17 of thespring contact member for closing the battery circuit to operate the main switch. The hand 19 is marked Ofl" and is adapted to be set to the time for opening the switch.

The switch mechanism used in connection with the above described time controlling means consists of a suitable base 22' near one end of which is positioned a plurality of contact clips 23 formedby a leg 24 pro-- ing a pair of suitably shaped spring contactmembers arranged to slidably engage the contact clips 23 and 23 form the main switch. The contact-members 25 are carried by a fiber bar 26 to which is secured a yoke 27 fixed on the end of a plunger rod 28 project- 'ing from a laminated .metal plunger 29. Said plunger is slidably mounted in a brass tube 30 forming the coreof a double acting electro-magnet 31, its end 32 being so wound as to actuate the plunger for closing the main switch, and the other end 33 to open same. Fixed to the plunger rod 28 is a collar 34 to each side of which are'pivotally connected lockin bars'35 normally disposed at an angle and having their free ends slidably mounted in guides 36 on the base. Each bar is provided with a collar 37, and interposed between same and its guide is a coiled spring 38 for holding the main switch by a thrusting action, in a closed or open position.

Positioned on the base 22 at each side of the electro-magnet 31, are small magnets 39 and 40, which are connected by a wire 41 with a battery 42. Leading from the battery to a binding post 43 of the clock casing, is a common return wire 44, and from the binding post extends a wire 45 leading to the clock 1. From a brush 46 mounted on the back of the dial 8, but insulated therefrom and which engages thebar 14, leads a wire 47 passing to a binding post 48 to which is connected a wire 49 leading to one of a pair of spaced contact springs 50 fastened to the base 22, and extending from the other contact spring50 to the magnet 39 is a wire 51. Leading from the magnet is a wire 52, which is connected with one of a pair of spaced contact springs 53 located between two of the contact clips 23, and from the other spring 53 extends a wire 54-leading to a binding post 55 from which,

extends a wire 56 leading to the metal dial 8. The fiber bar 26 carries a contact bar 57 projecting from both sides thereof for slidmg from between thepairs-of spacedcoln tact springs 50 and 53 to break the battery circuits at the moment the .main switch is operated and thereby prevent the battery One of the free ends of the wire around each end 32 and 33 of theelectro-magnet is connected to contact pieces 58 and 59 near each of which are. arranged similar contact pieces 58 and 595 respectively, which are connected by a wire 62. The contact pieces are secured to the base 22, and each pair is adapted to be engaged by plvoted armature bars 60 and 61 actuated by the magnets 39 and 40.

In the modification of the battery magnet as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,'the pivoted armature bar 63 which is preferably insulated. as at 64, terminates in a cross-bar 65 adapted to form a contact with a pair of angular-shaped members 66, one member of each-magnet being connected up similar to the contact pieces 58 and 59 and the other two by a wire similar to the wire 62. The other ends of the electro-magnet wires 67 and 68 and also a wire 69 connected to the wire 62, are connected with a suitable source of.electrical energy, and load wires 70, 71

and 72 connected to the contact clips 23 lead to a lighting system, an electric sign or the like, where it is desired to convey an electric current.

Tap wires may be led ofi from the battery wires 44, 49 and 54 to-a suitable switch 73 for operating the main switch without interfering with the time'controlling means.

It is apparent from the foregoing that if the On hand 12 is set for the closing of the main switch at a particular time and the contact bar 57 is between the contact springs 50, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the battery. circuit 42, 41, 51, 49, 47, 46, 14, 5, 45 and 44 would be closed when the arm 5 comes in contact with the spring 16 of the bar 14. This causes the magnet 39 to act and close the main circuit 67, 58, 60,

58, 32 and 69 which energizes the end of 32 I of the elect'ro-magnet 31 and actuates its plunger 29 to close the main switch, and the circuits 67-71,- 6972, and 68-70 are formed. At the same time the contact ba'r 57 slides from between the contact springs 50, thereby breaking the battery circuit, which causes the contact to be broken at 58, and the contact bar 57 slides between the contact springs 53.

"\Vhen the main switch is closed and the Off hand 19 is set to the desired time for opening same, the battery circuit 42, 41, 52, 54, 56, 8, 19, 18, 20, 5, 45, and 44 would be closed at the set time and the magnet 40 acts to close the main circuit 69, 59, 61, 59, 33,:and'68 which energizes the end 33 of the electro-magnet. The plunger is moved to open the main switch and the contact bar 57 -again.engages the contact springs 50.

'Although the elements set forth and described are well adapted to serve the intended pur oses, it is to be understood that slight c ianges in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principles or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what'I claim is 1. In atime controlled switch, the combination of a battery circuit, means for closing the battery circuit at'a predetermined time, a switch, an electromagnet, a plunger slidably mounted in the magnet for operating the switch, electro-magnets in the bat tery circuit'for closing the circuit of the first electro-magnet, spaced contact springs in the battery circuit, anda contact bar actuated by the plunger for breaking the battery circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a battery circuit, means for closing the battery circuitat a predetermined time, an electro-magnet, a plunger slidably mounted in the electro-magnet, a rod projecting from the plunger, a bar, of insulating mate- 'rial fixed to the rod, contact members carnation of a battery circuit, means for clos-. 10 I ing the battery circuit at a'predetermined time, a double acting electro-magnet and a plunger slidably mounted therein, a rod projecting from the plunger, a bar of insulating material fixed to the rod, contact members'carried by said bar, contact clips connected with a source of electrical energy and adapted to be engaged by-the contact members, means supported by the bar for breaking the battery circuit, a contact and an electro-magnet in the circuit of each end of the double acting electro-magnet, an armature bar for each of the last electro-magnets, a second contact, and a wire connecting the armature bars and leading to the second contact, substantially as described.

4. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a battery circuit, a switch con trolled by the closing of the battery circuit,-

a clock, a contact bar operated by-the clock and arranged in thebattery circuit, a wedgeshaped piece of'insulating material at the end of the contact bar, a movable arm in the battery circuit, a spring carried by the arm for slidable engagement with the wedgeshaped piece and .to form a sudden contact with the contact bar, and means for setting I the arm to be engaged by the contact bar at a predetermined time, substantially as described.

5. In a time controlled switch,the'combi-' substantially as described.

6. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a battery circuit, a switch adapted to be controlled by the closing of the battery circuit, a clock, a contact bar operated by the clock and arranged in the battery circuit, a wedge-shaped piece of insulating material at the end of the contact bar, a dial, the dial being arranged in the battery circuit, a bushing rotatably mounted in the dial, an arm fixed to the bushing and positioned in the battery circuit, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bushing and carrying an arm, a spring carried by each arm for slidable'engagement with the wedge-shaped piece and to form a sudden contact with the contact bar, a hand secured to the bushing, a hand secured to the shaft and in engagement with the dial, and

a. m. and p. m. marks on the dial for indicating the time the contact bar will engage said arms, substantially as described.

7. In. a. time controlled switch, the combi'.

nation of a battery circuit, means for cl0s--' ing the battery. circuit at a 'redetermined time, a main circuit, a switc an electro magnet, a plunger slidably mounted in the electric-magnet for operating the switch,

electro-magnets in the battery circuit for closing the circuit of the first electro-magnet, and means for substantially locking the" plunger when the switch is closed, substantially as described.

8. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a battery circuit, means for 610sing the battery circuit at a predetermined time, a switch, an electro-magnet, av plunger slidably mounted in the electro-magnet, a rod projectingl from the plunger for operat ing the switc electro-magnets in the battery circuit for closing the circuit of the first electro-magnet, a locking bar pivotally connected to each side of the plunger rod .andhaving a collar fixed thereto, a guide for each locking bar, and a spring on each looking bar and interposed between its collar and the guide, substantially as described.

9. In a time controlled switch, the combination of a batterycircuit, means for closing the battery circuit at a predetermined time, an electro-magnet, a plunger slidably mounted in the electro-magnet, a rod-projecting from the plun er, a bar of insulat ing material fixed to t e rod, contact membeing in the electro-magnet circuit and the other connected to a lead wire, each pair of contact clips being adapted to be engaged by each contact member, and electro-magnets in the battery circuit for closing the circuit of the first electro-magnet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signatnre, in presence of two witnesses.

CHAUNCEY R. DANA. Witnesses O'rro WEBER, RIQHARD M. McHENsY. 

